Breathtaking timelapse video of New York by photographer Michael Shainblum

Multiple trips across four years and 50,000 images – for three minutes and 13 seconds of magical footage.

Photographer Michael Shainblum has made a stunning timelapse video of New York, and revealed that he put in an enormous amount of work to produce it, revisiting the city again and again to add new images.

‘I wanted it to be perfect,’ he told MailOnline Travel. ‘I kept noticing spots where I could add new things or transition the video. The editing process took quite a while.’

Photographer Michael Shainblum has made a stunning timelapse video of New York – and kindly allowed MailOnline Travel to publish a handful of the 50,000 stills used to make it (above)

The video, which to date has had over 1.6million views on YouTube, takes us on an eye-popping tour of the Big Apple

The video, which to date has had over 1.6million views on YouTube, takes us on an eye-popping tour of the Big Apple

The first trip to make the film took place in 2016, followed by visits in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Over 50,000 images taken sequentially from the visits were turned into video files, edited and compiled into the film with music.

‘It was definitely a hard video for me to put together,’ Michael said, but it was a labour of love.

The photographer, who hails from San Francisco, said: ‘Every time I’ve been to New York to take photos or to do video, it’s always been such an amazing experience. Not just the shooting part but also just wandering around the city, eating delicious food, meeting local photographers.

‘From a visual and shooting aspect, what I love most about New York… I just find the architecture so fascinating. The Chrysler Building is one of my favourites in the world. I think that building is absolutely gorgeous.

Michael told MailOnline Travel: '[New York] is one of my favourite cities in the world. I've been to a few mega-cities and there's something about the energy of New York that I love'

Michael told MailOnline Travel: ‘[New York] is one of my favourite cities in the world. I’ve been to a few mega-cities and there’s something about the energy of New York that I love’

To make the film, Michael made multiple visits to New York across four years, with 50,000 images taken sequentially turned into video files, edited and compiled into the film with music

To make the film, Michael made multiple visits to New York across four years, with 50,000 images taken sequentially turned into video files, edited and compiled into the film with music

'From a visual and shooting aspect, what I love most about New York… I just find the architecture so fascinating,' Michael said

‘From a visual and shooting aspect, what I love most about New York… I just find the architecture so fascinating,’ Michael said

‘It’s one of my favourite cities in the world. I’ve been to a few mega-cities and there’s something about the energy of New York that I love. I knew I wanted to take multiple trips there to start working on my own film that showcases the beauty of the city and the different looks that the city can give you.’

The video, which to date has had over 1.6million views on YouTube, takes us on an eye-popping tour of the Big Apple, from its glittering skyscrapers at night, to the bustling concourse of Grand Central Terminal, the inimitable Times Square and to the 9/11 memorial in New Jersey, which is Michael’s favourite part of the video.

The 28-year-old said: ‘Initially, I was going to do the 9/11 memorial in New York, but I got kicked out every single time I tried to photograph it and set up my timelapse slider. But that really was a moment I wanted to include in the film. And there was that perfect part of the song, where the song slows down, it becomes a little softer, and I knew at that moment I wanted to do a little 9/11 tribute. And I wanted it to be at one of the memorials.

‘I was so upset when I wasn’t able to do the one in New York City, where the Twin Towers actually stood. But a friend of mine said, “Hey, there is a memorial in New Jersey, it’s beautiful, it has these just incredible walls with all the names written down on the walls, and you can see One World Trade in the background.’ And I was like, “Okay, well this will be a nice addition to the film.”

Michael's video features the Oculus concourse of the World Trade Center transportation hub

Michael’s video features the Oculus concourse of the World Trade Center transportation hub

Michael said that he wanted to 'showcase the beauty of the city and the different looks that the city can give you'

 Michael said that he wanted to ‘showcase the beauty of the city and the different looks that the city can give you’

‘So, it starts out and you’re moving across the wall looking at the names and it pans over and shows the One World Trade Center. I really wanted to make sure that that moment worked well in the video and I’m really happy with the way that part came out.’

What does Michael hope viewers will get from watching his film?

He said: ‘If somebody maybe hasn’t gotten the chance to visit New York yet, maybe this will be a video that inspires them to go there. That they can see the beauty of the place and the energy that New York presents and maybe be inspired to go. Or someone that has a fond memory of New York or maybe visited, or a local who truly appreciates the place that they live, hopefully this video does a little justice to them.’ 

To see more of Michael’s work visit his website, www.shainblumphoto.com, his Instagram profile, www.instagram.com/shainblumphotography, and his YouTube channel

Why did Michael make the video? He said: 'If somebody maybe hasn't gotten the chance to visit New York yet, maybe this will be a video that inspires them to go there.' Pictured here is the Flatiron Building

Why did Michael make the video? He said: ‘If somebody maybe hasn’t gotten the chance to visit New York yet, maybe this will be a video that inspires them to go there.’ Pictured here is the Flatiron Building